CASE Library
Explore The Issues that Matter.
We excitedly invite you to browse, search, and explore our newly redesigned library of over 300 case studies which render some of the most complex and controversial moral and political issues of our time. These cases were formerly used for official NHSEB competitions at the Regional, Divisional, and National Championship levels. They are freely available for public use under Creative Commons licenses.
The NHSEB Case Library is an excellent tool for competitive preparation, internal or intramural competition, or beyond the context of the Ethics Bowl activity completely—as a classroom resource for Grades 9-12 and beyond.
Featured Cases
NAVIGATING THE LIBRARY
NHSEB’s Case Library is now fully browsable by individual case, or by Case Set—using the filters below. Or, if you already know a bit about what you’re looking for, the entire library of over 300 Ethics Bowl cases is newly indexed, referenced, and searchable by title, topic, keyword, year, and category. Each individual case entry contains the full text of the case and discussion questions as they originally appeared for competitive use, all references assembled in hyperlinked footnotes, and additional contextual resources curated by NHSEB HQ.
CASE SET COLLECTION
FIND AN ETHICS BOWL CASE
ATTRIBUTION AND CITATION
All National High School Ethics Bowl cases are the intellectual property of the Parr Center for Ethics, and all are freely available for public use under Creative Commons licenses once retired from use in NHSEB competitions. This library represents thousands of hours of work from our Contributing Authors, Editors, and others. Please do not reproduce NHSEB cases or sets—in part or in whole—without attribution, or modify the text of individual cases or sets. If you reproduce or make reference to NHSEB cases from this library (e.g., in classroom materials, academic papers, etc.), please attribute and/or cite those materials:
National High School Ethics Bowl (Ed.), <YEAR>. “<Case Title>.” National High School Ethics Bowl Case Library. UNC Parr Center for Ethics: Chapel Hill, NC. http://nhseb.org/case-library
Browse The Library
Lying to Parents
Noah's parents are morally opposed to drinking but Noah, age 21, occasionally drinks a little. Should Noah lie to his parents about his drinking, given that telling the truth will be detrimental to their relationship and may cause his parents to withdraw their financial support for him?
Hurricane Katrina and Dr. Pou
During Hurricane Katrina, Dr. Pou injected several hospital patients with sedatives to ease their pain and focus on evacuating healthier patients. Did Dr. Pou do the right thing in hastening the death of some of her patients during Katrina? Whose life should doctors prioritize during emergency situations?
Blocking the Uninsured from Refueling
In the U.K., closed circuit television will be used to block uninsured motorists from refueling. This technology (automatic number plate recognition) is already used on toll roads. Advocates of this system argue it will benefit those who have accidents with uninsured drivers while critics claim it violates privacy of drivers.
Heart Attack Grill
Heart Attack Grill sells extremely unhealthy food, but is honest about how bad the food is for one's health. Should owner Jon Basso continue to operate the Heart Attack Grill after 2 regular customers died of heart attacks? Do people have the right to eat whatever food they want, even if it kills them?
Writing Your Own Letter of Recommendation
Under what conditions, if any, is it ethical to write one's own letter of recommendation?
Immunization Programs as a Cover for Spying Operations
A polio vaccination program was used by the CIA to help gain information on the whereabouts of Osama bin Laden in Pakistan. Under what circumstances is the use of humanitarian programs for ulterior purposes justified? Should governments provide aid to countries known to harbor terrorists?
Dating a Friend’s Ex
In what circumstances is it morally permissible for Logan to date his close friend Alex's ex-girlfriend? Alex tells Logan pursuit of the relationship amounts to a betrayal. Is this a morally permissible reaction?
Army Hairstyles
2014 updates to US Army appearance and grooming protocol prohibit hairstyles that are common among African American women. Critics called the changes racially biased while supporters claim are necessary to maintain uniformity. To what extent should the military maintain uniformity versus embrace ethnic diversity?
Copying Homework
Vivian asks her friend Gabriella if she can copy a worksheet for a homework assignment she forgot to do. On the one hand, the worksheet is just busy work and Gabriella wants to help her friend. On the other hand, she could get in trouble and it seems unfair to all of the students who did the homework on their own.
Head Transplant
Medical advancements have made head transplantation surgery seem possible. The body of a brain-dead patient could be attached to the head of those with advanced cancer. Some worry that vulnerable young people could be farmed for their bodies. Is this surgery morally permissible?
Overbearing Mama Bear
Special software allows parents to monitor their children's social media accounts and web searches. Some see this technology as intrusive, while others feel they protect children. Are parental monitoring apps morally permissible?
State Secularism
Quebec's government proposed a bill that would ban public-sector employees from wearing religious symbols. Should a government be allowed to require its employees to violate their religious beliefs?
Wonder Medicine for Cancer Treatment
Nick, a terminally ill patient, was denied admittance to a clinical trial that was the only means to access a potentially life-saving drug. Under what conditions is it ethical for drug companies to offer or deny drugs to patients that want them but are not eligible for the trials?
Repatriating War Spoils and Cultural Artifacts
There have been many examples of looted art in recent decades. Who has claim to cultural artifacts: researchers from all over the world, war conquerors, their original owners? Should a collector who unknowingly bought looted art return the items?
Obligations of Historical Fiction Writers
Two pieces of historical fiction portray the same historical figure very differently. Do writers of historical fiction have any obligation to represent events accurately? Is it morally wrong to depict a figure as more cruel than they really were?
Media Coverage of Mass Murders
It has been argued that media coverage of the perpetrators of mass killings may instigate copycat killings. Should freedom of the press to cover mass killings be protected if it is shown that such coverage leads to more killings?
Caring for Adults with Severe Developmental Disabilities
Eva abandoned her developmentally disabled daughter, age 19, outside a bar and drove home. She claims that she lost her job and went into debt caring for her daughter. Do parents ever have the right to leave an adult child that needs care?
Legal Personhood and the Status of Non-Human Animals
Some animal rights groups insist that some non-human animals possess high-level cognitive abilities that entitles them to legal personhood and the associated fundamental rights. What restrictions should be placed on how we can use animals?
Gender and Sex in School
A transgender girl in Colorado sued the school system and won after being forced to use the boys' bathroom. Which bathroom should a transgender student be allowed to use? Should public recognition of a person's gender be determined by anatomy or personal identity?
The Purpose of Public Education
Governor McCrory argued against subsidizing liberal arts and humanities majors that he believes do not prepare students for jobs. Should the government subsidize majors that are most economically valuable, most fulfilling, best promote moral development, or that help build a democratic society?